Pregnancy is one of the most important phases of a woman’s life. Physically, emotionally and cognitively different from a normal way of life, pregnancy places unique demands on the woman. Strategies are required in order to ensure a favorable outcome. This warrant tests to assure a healthy and positive outcome in pregnancy for both the mother and the fetus. Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Each trimester asks for different types of tests: First-Trimester Tests The first trimester has its own challenges. This is the phase when the fertilized egg develops into a fetus and organogenesis is active and fast paced. Any negative event may lead to birth defects in the fetus, directly impacting the outcome of pregnancy. In order to investigate how the fetus is developing, expecting mothers undergo a fetal ultrasound and a blood test. These are also called prenatal screening tests and are very effective when mixed with other tests, like Nuchal Translucency test (NT). The first trimester has its own challenges. This is the phase when the fertilized egg develops into a fetus and organogenesis is active and fast paced. Any negative event may lead to birth defects in the fetus, directly impacting the outcome of pregnancy.

Looking for a safer and natural method of family planning ? Then you will be excited to know that there is one. The rhythm method of family planning is a natural method which relies upon the fact that a woman is not fertile all days of the month. There are days when conception is not possible for a woman, and there are days when a woman can conceive. The rhythm method focuses on abstinence on the fertile days. It is based on the ovulation cycle of the woman. This technique of using the calendar to estimate the fertile period in order to avoid sex is also known as the calendar method. How does rhythm method work? A woman, right from puberty, has monthly cycles of ovulation in which an egg is released from the ovary every cycle. When this egg meets the sperm, it gets fertilized, and the woman gets pregnant . The time period during which the chances of this fertilization is high is known as the fertile period. The rhythm method of family planning relies on people abstaining from sex during this fertile period – which means that the rhythm method is based on periodic abstinence. Recommended Read:

Pregnancy is scary, and it is scarier when you don’t know much about it. Don’t worry! Pregnancy is easy when you are well informed with the facts on what to anticipate, what to do, how to do what you need to do, and also what not to do. So, if you are a first-time mom and looking forward to a healthy outcome of pregnancy, read on. Stop being anxious It is natural for any woman to get anxious the moment she knows that she is pregnant. Though you feel happy, anxiousness usually overrules every other emotion of yours. So, if you are an anxious first-time mom, just relax and take a deep breath. What to anticipate? Pregnancy is a physically, emotionally and cognitively demanding phase which requires careful attention to details. You need to understand that you are no longer alone but with a fetus developing rampantly. The developing fetus consumes your energy, attention, and nutrition, leaving you tired and fatigued. The fetus also presses on the abdominal organs leading to morning sickness, characterized by nausea and vomiting. This is known as hyperemesis gravidarum. You can also expect bloating and lower back ache. There might be mild swelling of legs, which is normal if other clinical parameters are normal.

Did you just have a baby? Is it your first baby? Are you Done with your postpartum blues? Now back home, after all the celebrations of inviting the new member in the family, your mind will be throbbing with the question of when and how you are going to have the next one. One common question that every couple after the first pregnancy with a newly born first child asks their doctor is “When can we have our next baby?” In other words, the couple is trying to figure out how long they need to adopt a family planning method so that they can have an adequate period of space between the two children. What is birth spacing? But what exactly is birth spacing? It is nothing but the time interval between a live birth and the next pregnancy. This is technically referred to as birth-to-pregnancy interval. Though there are various birth-to-pregnancy intervals suggested, there are universal guidelines developed and adopted by the World Health Organization that keeps in mind the multicultural landscape of maternal health. World Health Organization in 2007 recommended a minimum interval of 24 months between a live birth and the next pregnancy. Why do you need birth spacing?

Pregnancy is physically demanding. A growing fetus along with amniotic fluid exert a considerable amount of pressure on the abdomen and the surrounding organs. The resultant pressure falls on the lower back predominantly – on the sacroiliac joint, and this causes lower back pain. Usually, lower back pain can be self-resolving, as the fetus grows and occupies a higher position, but sometimes the pain can acute, especially if you have had a sedentary lifestyle. Muscles tend to be weak in this case and don’t provide much support, forcing the bones and joints to take up the pressure. Causes of lower back pain in pregnancy Apart from all the initial signs ,  growing fetus and the weight gain, there can also be other causes- namely stress, changes in posture, hormonal changes, and muscle weakness. Emotional stress leads to lower back pain due to increase in muscle tension. The pain will be exaggerated when the stress increases. Postural changes are common in pregnancy as the centre of gravity of the body shift more forward, which strains the back. There is always a slight postural correction in the spine during pregnancy. If the postural correction is high, it exerts a significant pressure on the lower part of the spine and the surrounding joints.